Myers, Pomeranz deliver for hometown crowd
SAN DIEGO -- Wil Myers heard the 40,000-plus fans at Petco Park erupt when his name was announced during introductions Tuesday night.
He felt the full weight of the entire city of San Diego pulling for him -- along with left-hander Drew Pomeranz -- in the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard.
And then, after starting his night 0-for-2, Myers delivered.
The Padres first baseman laced a rocket two-out double to right-center field in the top of the fifth inning, sending the fans into a frenzy. It marked the first extra-base hit by a Padre at an All-Star Game since Ken Caminiti did so in 1996.
"That first at-bat I was extremely nervous, probably more nervous than I ever have been in any at-bat," Myers said after the American League had wrapped up a 4-2 victory. "Just to hear the crowd, obviously [it was] on national television. But I was able to calm down there for those last two at-bats and was lucky enough just to get a hit."
You could call it luck. Or you could call it a 99-mph missile from one of the game's hottest hitters. Myers received the start as the NL's designated hitter and became the first Padre to bat cleanup in an All-Star Game since Fred McGriff did so in 1992 -- the last Midsummer Classic to be played in San Diego.
Myers, of course, surged his way into the All-Star Game with a brilliant June in which he took home the National League Player of the Month Award and set a club record with 11 home runs.
Then, he became the first player with an extra-base hit in a home All-Star Game at his home ballpark since Mike Cameron did so in Seattle in 2001.
"It was really cool just to have it here in San Diego," said Myers. "Just to experience the crowd first-hand, it was an awesome experience. One I'll never forget."
Myers was fortunate enough to share the moment with Pomeranz, who pitched a scoreless fourth inning, allowing only a seeing-eye single to Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr.
"The fans were just going crazy since we're here in our home city, especially when they announced both of us," Pomeranz said. "It was pretty awesome. It's pretty special to have your first one anywhere, but even more so here."
AJ Cassavell covers the Padres for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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